EghtesadOnline: More than 2.18 million TEUs of container goods were loaded and unloaded in Hormozgan Province’s Shahid Rajaee Port during the first 10 months of the current Iranian year (March 21, 2017-Jan. 20), registering a 19% increase compared with the similar period of last year.

The announcement was made by Director General of Hormozgan Ports and Maritime Organization, Allah-Morad Afifipour, the news portal of the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development reported.

“Container transship through the port amounted to 216,588 TEUs, indicating a 51% rise compared with the corresponding period of last year,” he said.

The official added that container transit also increased by 18% over the period to reach 379,155 TEUs, indicating an 18% increase year-on-year, according to Financial Tribune.

With two specialized container terminals and 18 modern gantry cranes, Shahid Rajaee is Iran’s biggest container port at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz in southern Iran.

“Plans are to add 12 more gantry cranes as well as 15 transtainers to the second terminal of the port. The port’s final container activity capacity will reach 8 million TEUs per year,” he said.

Afifipour noted that 80% of the country’s container activity are carried out through Shahid Rajaee port.

A transportation company owned by a group of leading Iranian miners, steelmakers and investment banks signed an agreement with Ports and Maritime Organization late last year to establish a specialized berth for mineral products’ export and import at Shahid Rajaee Port.

The agreement is aimed at preparing one of Iran’s largest ports for the 55-million-ton annual steel production and trade target set for the industry in 2025.

The transportation company’s stakeholders include Mines and Metals Development Investment Company, Omid Investment Bank, Iran’s two main iron ore producers Golgohar and Chadormalu mining and industrial companies, Iran’s largest flat steel producer Mobarakeh Steel Company and the flagship shipping company Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines.